New recall effort, more candidates surface

Erin Neff

Friday, Nov. 17, 2000 | 11:19 a.m.

Michael McDonald denounces Steve Miller as a sore loser who is only leading a recall effort to exact revenge on the man who twice beat him for a Las Vegas City Council seat.

In fact, Miller is having more luck getting voters to sign his petition to recall McDonald than he is in having them nominate him for the council seat.

Now some people who want McDonald removed from office fear Miller may be dragging the recall down by association.

And that's why a quiet campaign is under way ready to spend $225,000 to recall McDonald and promote a different candidate.

"We're ready to go," said one person researching a second recall effort. "We just need a candidate."

An ad agency has been approached. Research has been conducted throughout Ward 1. Money has been pledged from individuals and gaming companies.

Now the quiet campaign just needs the right person.

And sources tell the Sun a Thanksgiving shopping list full of names is emerging.

Cheryl Rogers, whose son Perry is Andre Agassi's agent, is the latest to join the would-be replacement list.

Sources say Rogers can commit money and possibly walk the ward with Agassi to gain support for the recall and her nomination. Rogers, an ex-wife of KVBC Channel 3 owner Jim Rogers, could not be reached for comment.

Former city Planning Commissioner David Griego, who had considered running against McDonald in 1999, came to Thursday's special council meeting in an effort to be seen. Another former planning commissioner, Marilyn Moran, is also interested in the seat.

State Assemblywoman Merle Berman, whose re-election signs still dot the ward, has talked about being a candidate for McDonald's seat.

McDonald could lose his council seat in one of three ways. If the recall petition gathers enough signatures to force an election, residents could vote him out.

If the city ethics violations are prosecuted through Municipal Court and McDonald is found guilty, he will be immediately removed from office. And when the state Ethics Commission hears McDonald's case early next month, that board has the power to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Miller admits his quest to win nomination to the seat is a cheap way to run for election and a way to run before McDonald's seat expires in 2003.

Proponents of the secondary recall, which has not yet officially begun, have also looked at recent Election Day losers for candidates.

Failed Clark County Commission candidate Lois Tarkanian and U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bernstein have both been eyed for their potential , as has Deputy District Attorney Chuck Thompson.

"We can't really do anything until we get a candidate," said another source familiar with the second recall.

Rumors have already begun circulating that Goodman is behind the second recall effort. In fact, McDonald told the Sun's POV Vegas cable television show that he heard that Goodman was bankrolling the effort.

Goodman said he has been contacted by several people who have expressed interest in the position. For now, Goodman is only saying that he will sign Miller's recall petition.

"I will sign that, but as far as taking any active role, I won't," Goodman said.